John m



J. M. CALLOW. FLO TAUON SEPARATORY APPARMUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, I914.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

wi bmeooeo jzm Madam.

UNITED STATES ra ser orrics.

JOHN M. CALLOW, OI SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSEGNOR, BY IEESNEASSIGNMENTS,

TO PNEUMATIC PROCESS FLOTATZON COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA-TION OF DELAWARE.

nno'm'rion snreneronir rnoonss AND APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d J 25 1921.

Application filed April 27, 1914. Serial No. 834,768.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JOHN M. CnLLow, a subject of the King of GreatBrltam, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and Stateof Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FlotationSeparatory Processes and Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a flotation separatory process and apparatusdesigned for the concentration of metallic ores by separating themetallic particles from the barren r rocky constituents thereof, and thelnventlon consists of the parts, constructions, arrangements andcombinations of parts and the separator-y process which I willhereinafter fully describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and inwhlch s1m1- lar reference characters indicate like parts in the severalviews Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view with parts in elevation, ofa flotation orseparatory apparatus embodying the salient features of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a part of the apparatus on theline X-X of Fig. 1.

Fig.3 is a modification te be referred to.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of a swlveled connection, 28.

The apparatus shown in the present case is specifically'related to theart commonly known as buoyant processes and which is distinct from theusual amalgamation processes in which the ore forms an amalgam, in thatin the buoyant processes a certain percentage of oil, or of twodissimilar oils, or an oil and an acid, or an oil and an alkali is mixedwith finely ground ore pulp and the mixture is then subj ected to aviolent agitation with the result that large volumes of air are beateninto and entrained by the pulp for the purpose of producing a frothcomposed of bubbles of air and oil to which the mineral )articlesattach, said froth havin the ap earance of an aggregation or mass offine cap bubbles which when collected and the roth discharged or brokendown, by natural ettlem nt, or by the addition of cold water,

or other means, displaces the mineral particles that have been caught.

In another application filed by. me on the 1st day of April, 1914,Serial Number 828,805, I have disclosed and claimed what I term aseparatory tank of substantially rectangular form having a bottomportion inclined and provided with a series of independent cells-adaptedto contain air, gas or vapor under pressure, and a porouswall or uppersurface forming the top of the cell and through which the air, gas orvapor is delivered into the solution, or the mineral bearingpulp ininnumerable fine streams distributed irregularly substantiallythroughout the entire area of the pulp.

In another application filed by me on the 6th day of July, 1914, SerialNumber 831,050, I have fully described and claimed a process forremoving by vacuum or suction, the froth, foam or suds, which accumulates on the surface of the pulp, and thereby breaks down the bubbles todisplace the mineral particles which they have caught during theascentof thebubbles through the body of pulp which mineral particles,together with any liquid matter that might come under the action of thevacuum or suction, being separated from the main body of the pulp anddelivered into a vacuum tank or vessel wherein the solids areprecipitated or settled and from which they may be withdrawn as aconcentrate.

The present invention is related distinctly to the two inventions abovementioned for which applications for patents have been made, and it disloses another type of apparatus by which the aforesaid vacuum processmay be carried out.

In the present instance, the tank, A, may be of any suitableconstruction and capacity. Preferably, it is of circular form and hasdouble walls, 10-1 iorming between them anannular space, 11, into whichthe pulp to be treated is first admitted, the inner wall, 10, beingshorter than the outer wall and terminating above the bottom of the tankso as to form a space through which the pulp may flow into the chamberof the tank from below. I

The tank has an appropriate bottom which at its center is provided witha hub or bearing, 12, which is connected with a tailings discharge pipe,13.

To the bottom of the tank are fixed in any desired manner a series ofvertical partitions, 14, which stano on edge and may have a uniform orvariable height. In Fig. 1 I

combined with the partitions forms a series of independent cells in thebottom of the tank and the false bottom forms the top oi said cells andis formed of some appropriate porous medium; porous brick, or a layer offine sand between two restraining layers of screen cloth, or layers offibrous material laid one above the other,such as cocoa matting, orporous wood, as bass-wood, or one or more layers of any suitable fibrousmaterial, as canvas or filtering cloth, capable of subdividing air, gasor vapor into more or less irregular jets of infinite number andfineness may be used and are within the scope of my invention and whichporous materials are fully described and claimed in conjunction withother featuresin my pending applications Serial Numbers 793,693, filedOctober 6, 1913, and 806,361, filed December 18, 1913.

It will be observed that by reason of the variable heights of thepartitions, 14, the porous material, 15, forming the false bottom, orfloor, slopes downwardly from the inner circumference of the tank to thecentral hub-portion, l2, and thus communicates at the latter point withthe tailings discharge pipe, 13. The purpose of thus de clining theporous material from all sides to a common point will be readilyunderstood froin the following: 7

Material, admitted into the annular space, 11, of the tank passes underthe lower edge of the inner wall, 10', of said tank and onto the higherpart of the porous medium, and the pulp flows down the inclined surfaceof said medium and gradually fills the tank to the proper level. As thepulp flows down the inclined: surface of the porous medium during thefilling operation, the coarser particles of mat rial, say the coarsesands,- too heavy to be lifted by the pressure of air, gas or vaporemitted through the porous medium will naturally gravitate down theincline from all directions toward the lowest point or center and intothe tailings discharge, 13.

Experiments conducted by me have shown that if the coarse sands arepermitted to accumulate on the top surface of the porous medium, theywould soon blanket the latter and to agreat extent render this mediumineffective for the best results. So long as the slime was infinitelyfine and slimy, the air, gas or vapor pressure was ample and thevelocities maintained in the tank were sul'licient to dischargeeverything over the a'ccninulate to such an extent as to form a layer orblanket of sand above the porous medium and so retard or prevent thefree passage therethrough of the air, or vapor used for aerating andagitating the pulp, and the air, gas or vapor instead of beingdistributed over the entire surface of the pulp, would all come upthrough some small area which might represent a path of least resistanceand so destroy to some extent theaction of the air, or vapor. To meetthis objection found it desirable to incline the porous medium so as tocause the heavier particles or coarse sands to gravitate over thesurface of the medium to a discharge point rather than tending to lodgeupon and finally blanketing the porous medium; and with this object inview and applying the results of theformer e2:- periments to the presenttype of apparatus, it will be apparent that if during the agitation andaeration of the pulp by the line streams of air,- gas or vapor,delivered through the porous medium, there is any tendency of the coarsesands or other material to settle upon said medium, the velocity of theair, gas or vapor is sullicient to give a slight movement to theparticles and this movement, plus the more or less steeply inclinedfloor formed by the upper surface of the porous medium, will result inthese coarse particles being iain'tained under movement and graritatingto the lower end r central point of the tank and into the tailingsdischarge pipe, 13.

As the sands removed from one portion cl the porous medium gravitateover the surrace they come into Contact with the sands which have lodgedor tend to lodge upon the lower portions of the porous medium and thismovement to sands so that in the aggregate the coarser sands are causedto be automatically removed and the surface of the medium to be keptsubstantially clean the free -;lischarge 1 air, gas or vapor, and,therefore, there is no possibility of the slim-es settling u;

and forming a blanket for said porous medium.

Compressed air, or a gas or vapor under pressure is supplied to thevarious cells formed in the bottom of the tank through avalve-controlled pipe, 55, having valve-controlled branches, 56, one ofwhich leads to each of the aforesaid cells, the volume of air, gas orvapor admitted into each compartment being, preferzbly, under pressurefor air as or va or under ressure and this air, gas or vapor is emittedthrough the porous medium in the form of innumerable fine streams orjets, this being for the purpose of both aerating and agitating the pulpimmediately above the several compart ments, the compressed air, gas orvapor becoming the medium of (1) aerating or charging the pulp with adesired volume of air, gas or vapor and (2) it likewise induces andmaintains an agitation or ebullition of the pulp and theoiiy'constituents thereof and produces a froth composed of bubbles ofair, having an envelop or covering of oily matter to which the mineralparticles in the pulp have an affinity and will attach.

To further assist in maintaining the upper surface of the porous mediumsubstantially clean of any material which wouldtend to blanket or clogthe pores thereof, I have shown suitable arms, 1'7, radiating from acentral hub, or collar, 18, and which arms are preferably formed ofpiping and are designed to act as revolving stirrers. These arms arearranged a short distance above the surface of the porous medium and areinclined to conform thereto and they operate with a sort of sweepingaction to further agitate and start in motion those coarse sands whichwould tend to lodge upon and clog said medium.

The collar, 18, towhich the arms are secured, is fixed to the lower endof a vertical rotatable shaft, 19, and the arms are suitably braced byrods, 20, connecting the central portions of the arms with the shaft ata point above the aforesaid collar.

The shaft, 19, is mounted in suitable bearings, 21, and the upper partof the shaft is of tubular form for a purpose I will hereinaftermention.

There is also secured to the shaft, the smallerrend of a'cone, 22, andthis cone is provided with horizontally extending wings orvanes, 22',which are. designed to operate in the body of pulp to induce a rotationorv circular movement thereof during the period that the air, gas orvapor is being discharged into the pulp from below.

The purpose of the cone, 22, is to form an upwardly inclined wall fordirecting the constantly forming bubbles upwardly and outwardly andwithin the range of action of the vacuum devices, which are de signed tobreak down these bubbles and remove adhering mineral particles to asuitable tank, where the concentrates may e separated and discharged.

It will be well understood in this that the bubbles are in the form of afroth, foam or suds, and that they accumulate upon the surface of thepulp. In order to remove this froth as it forms I locate within the tankany desired number of suitable vacuum nozzles, 23, whose open ends arepro sented downwardly toward the mass of accumulating froth, foam orsuds, said nozzles being sufliciently long as to practically er;- tendcompletely across the space letween the inner wall, 10, of the tank andthe upper or larger end of the cone, and beneath which nozzles theinclined wall of the cone is ada ted to direct the foam as it forms.

Tie vacuum nozzles are connected with hollow arms, 24, which in turn arerigid with a sleeve, 25, which embraces the hollow shaft, 26, which isarranged in line with and is practically a continuation of the shaft,19, to which the lower end of the shaft, 26, is secured, in anyappropriate manner.

The inner ends of the hollow are open or provided with ports which aredesigned to register with other ports,

7 26, when relative movement is imparted to the shaft and arms, saidshaft, 26, having its upper end connected by an air-tight swiveledconnection, 28, of any appropriate character, for instance, as shown inFig. at, to a pipe, 29, the opposite end of which leads into a tank, 30,and which tank is connected with the inlet end of an exhaust fan, 31, orlike device for creating and maintaining a vacuum in said tank, the tankbeing provided with a vertical partition, 31, to prevent the shortcircuiting of the air current induced in the pipe, 29, and insuring adelivery into the vacuum tank of the metallic particles and any solutionpicked up by the vacuum nozzles. In this tank the solid matters areallowed to precipitate and to be discharged through a valve-controlledoutlet in the bottom, which discharge may be continuous orintei'fmittent, as may be desired.

Connected to the hollow shaft, 26, is suitable gearing, 32, which may beof y sired character, for rotating the t;

formed in the lower part of the hollow shaft f shai and surrounding saidshaft is a hopper or receiver. 33, into which. leads a spout, 34, for

conducting the material into the hopper, said hopper having extendingdownwardly at incline from it, the feed distributing pipes, 35, thelower ends of which lead into the annular space, 11, between the doublewalls of the main tank, A.

The tank, 21, is extended at one end to form a housing, 3b, the lowerpart or which opens into the annular space, ll, said hous ing formingchamber in which operates a float, 3?, on the end of a pivoted lever,3b, one arm of which is connected to a rod, 39, whose lower end issecured to one arm of a cell-crank lever, 10, whose other arm isconnected to a rod, 41, which in turn is connected to an arm, 12, of abutterfly or other valve, ll-3, located in and controlling the tailingsdischarged from the pipe, 13, in the bottom of the tank.

In the arrangement heretofore described and shown for ative purposes,the arms, 24:, with their nozzles are supposed to be statiol'iary whilethe shaft, 26, revolves and circular motion given to the pulp, but itwill be obvious that any other arrangement whereby there may be obtaineda relative movement of the arms and hollow shaft,

will be but an equivalent of the construction before described and willbe within the scope of my invention, it only being necessary that theparts shall be so arranged that 7 during the rotation of one partrelatively to the other the ports, 27, will register with the ports inthe inner ends of the arm and the suction induced through the pipe, 29,and hollow shaft, 26, will. result in the froth accumulating on thesurface of the pulp being picked up by the nozzles and broken down andcollapsed and drawn into the nozzles and through the arms and portsbefore mentioned into the hollow shaft, 26, and finally into the pipe,29, and vacuum tank. 30. This action will be readily understood when itis suggested that under the ordinary con ditions of operation, thebubbles are ruptured by the expansion of the contained air on reaching;the surface or coming under the influence of the vacuum, where theexternal pressure is less than that within the bubblesv The same resultwould be obtained as before suggested, by rotating the vacuum nozzlesand their arms about the shaft, 26, in

' V which case the vanes on the cone, 2: 2, vould not be necessary. Ifthe arms, 24:, were made to revolve. the vacuum nozzles would op-' cratewith a sweeping: action overthe surface of the bubbles and would pick upthe bubbles in the same manner as before described, but the arrangementshown ll regard as the preferred one.

It will also be understood that any de sired number of arms and vacuumnozzles may be employed, although in the present instance but two areshown, one arranged diametrically opposite to the other.

Having; thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. 1n apparatus of the character described.the combination of a tank adapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulpcontainwearer ing an oily agent having a preferential affinity for themineral over the gangue constituent of the pulp; means for diffusing agaseous fluid under p" ssure into the (501 tents of the tank foragitating and aeratingthe same, said mean s permitt the passage of thegaseous fluid but not pulp and water,v and pneumatic means for removingfrom the surface of the pulp, the froth, foam or suds forming thereon.

2. in apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tankadapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp, having an oily agent with apr ferential aflinity for the mineral over the gan ue constituent thepulp; means for diffusing a us fluid under pressure into the contents oftin; tank for agitating and aerating; ti o same, said means permittingthe passage of a gas cons fluid but not pulp and wateiu pneumatic meansfor breaking down the froth, foam or suds forming; on the surface of thepulp and simultaneously therewith removing the mineral particles carriedby the froth; and means whereby the contents of the tank and thepneumatic means are given rotary movement one relatively to the other.

1n apparatus of the character described the combination of a tankadapted to contain a mineral-boa ring? pulp having an oily agent with apreferential affinity for the mineral over the gana'ue constituent ofthe pulp; means for diffusing a gaseous fluid under pressure into thecontents of ti o tank for agitating; and aerating the same to produce afroth, foam or suds composed of air bubbles to which the mineralparticles attach said means permitting; the passage of the gaseous fluidbut not pulp and water, and pneumatic means for exhausting; the airbubbles rising to the surface of the contents of the tank andsimultaneously therewith liberating and separating the mineralparticles.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tankadapted to contain mineral-bearinpg pulp having an oily agent with apreferential atiinity for the mineral over the ,Q'angue constituent ofthe pulp; means for admittinoi fluid under pressure into the contents ofthe tank for agitating and aerating the same to produce a frotln foam orsuds composed of air bubbles to which the mineral particles attach; andpneumatic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface ofthe contents of the tank and thereby liberating and separating: themineral particles, said lastnamed means including a vacuum nozzlepositioned in the path of the ascending air bubbles and air-exhaustingappliances connected to said nozzle.

5. in apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tankadapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with apreferential afiinity for the mineral over the gangue constituent of thepulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into the contents ofthe tank for agitating and aerating the same to produce a froth, foam orsuds composed of air bubbles to which the mineral particles attach;pneumatic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface ofthe contents of the tank and thereby liberating and separating themineral particles, said lastnamed means including a vacuum nozzlepositioned near the surface of the contents of the tank, andair-exhausting appliances connected to said nozzle; and means fordiverting the air bubbles into the range of action of the nozzle.

' 6. In apparatus of the characterdescribed, the combination of a tankadapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having'an oily agent witha'preferential affinity for the mineral over the gangue constituent ofthe pulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into the contentsof the tank for agitating and aerating the same to produce a froth, foamor suds composed of air bubbles to which the inineralparticles attach;pneu- Vmatic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surfaceof the contents of the tank and thereby liberating and separating themineralparticles, sa'd last-named means including a vacuum nozzlepositioned near the surface of the contents of the tank, and airexhausting appliances connected to said nozzle; and a member positionedcentrally of the tank having'upwardly diverging sides for directing theasce1iding,air bubbles the range of action of the nozzle.

7. In apparatus of the character described, .the combination of a tankadapted to contain mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with apreferential affinity for the mineral over the gangue constituent of thepulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into the contents ofthe tank for agitating and aerating the same to produce a th-v foam orsuds composed of air bubbles to which the mineral particles attach;pneumatic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface ofthe contents of the tank and thereby liberating and separating themineral particles, said last-named means including a vacuum nozzlepositioned near the surface of the contents of the tank; airexhaustingappliances connected to said nozzle; and a cone-shaped member havingupwardly diverging sides for directing the airbubbles upwardly andoutwardly into the range of action of the nozzle.

7 8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a-tankadaptedto contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with apreferential afiinity for the mineral over the gangue constituent of thepulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into the contents ofthe tank for agitating and aerating the same to produce a froth, foam orsuds composed of bubbles to which the mineral particles attach; pneuratic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface of thecontents of the tank thereby liberating and separating the mineralparticles, said last-named means including a vacuum nozzle andairexhausting elements connected thereto; and means whereby the nozzleand contents of the tank are given a circular motion, one relatively tothe other.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tankadapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with apreferential affinity for the mineral over the gangue constituent of thepulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into the contents ofthe tank for agitating and aerating the same to produce a froth, foam orsuds composed of air bubbles to which the mineral particles attach;pneumatic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface ofthe contents of the tank and thereby liberating and separating themineral particles, said last-named means including a vacuum nozzlepositioned near the surface of the contents of the tank; air-exhaustingappliances connected to said nozzle; and 'a member positioned centrallyof the tank having upwardly diverging sides for directing the ascendingair bubbles into the range of action of the nozzle, said memher havinglaterally extending vanes adapted to impart a circular motion to thecontents of the tank.

10. In apparatusof the character described, the combination of a tankadapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with apreferential affinity for the mineral over the gangue constituentof thepulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure intothe contents of thetank for agitating and aerating the sam'e'to produce a froth, foam orsuds composed of air bubbles to which the mineral particles attach;

pneumatic means for exhausting the air bubbles rising to the surface ofthe contents of the tank and thereby liberating and separating themineral particles, saidlast-named means including a vacuum nozzlepositioned near the surface of the contents of the tank;

air-exhausting appliances connected to said nozzle; a member positionedcentrally of the tank having upwardly diverging sides for directing theascending air bubbles into the range of action of the nozzle, saidmember having laterally extending vanes adapted to impart a circularmotion to the contents of the tank; and means for rotating the vanes.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tankadapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with apreferential afiinity for the mineral over the gangueconstituent of thepulp, said tank having double walls forming an intervening space intowhich the pulp is first admitted, toe innermost of said \valls beingshorter than the outer wall; a chamber in the bottom of the tank havinga porous upper surface forming a floor for the pulp-containing chamber;means for admitting a fluid under pressure into said chamber; saidporous floor adapted to perinit the passage of said fluid into the pulpin innumerable fine streains distributed throughout the entire undersurface of the pulp, whereby the pulp is agitated and aerated to producea froth, or-foani, Which accumulates on its upper surface; a vacuumnozzle positioned at the upper surface of the pulp and into the range ofaction of which the froth ascends and by which the air bubblesconstitutingthe froth are broken down and the mineral particlesliberated and removed; a vacuum tank; and pipe connections between saidvacuum tank and said nozzle.

12. In apparatus of the character described. the combination of a tankadapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent With apreferential affinity for the mineralover the gangrue constituent of thepulp, said tank having double Walls forming;' an intervening space intowhich the pulp is first admitted, the innermost of said Walls beingshorter than the outer Wall; achainber in the bottom of the tank having"a porous upper surface forming a floor for the pulp-containing; chamber;means for admitting a fluid under pressure into said chamber; saidporous floor adapted to permit the passae'e of said fluid into the pulpin innumerable fine streams distributed throughout the entire undersurface of the pulp whereby the pulp is agitated and aerated to producea froth or foam, which accumulates on its upper surface; a vacuum nozzlepositioned at the upper surface of the pulp and into the ranpge ofaction of which the froth ascends and by which the air bubblesconstitutincz the froth are broken down a-nd'the mineral particlesliberated and removed; a vacuum tank; pipe connections oily agent with apreferential affinitv for the mineral over the gangue constituent of thepulp, s d tank having double walls form ng an intervening space intowhich the pulp is first admitted the innermost of said Walls beingshorter than the outer Wall; a chamber an the bottom of the tank having;a

and the mineral particles liberated and re said 1,

first admitted, the innermost of said aser/e7 chamber; said porous lleoradapted to perlllll] the passage said fluid into the pulp in innumerablefine streams distributed throughout the entire under surface of thepulp, whereby the pulp is agitated and aerated to produce a froth orfoarn which accumulates on its upper surface; a vacuum nozzle positionedat the upper surface of the pulp and into the range of action of whichthe froth ascends and by which the air bubbles constituting the frothare broke down and the mineral particles liberated and removed; a vacuumtank; pipe connections between said vacuum tank and said nozzle; saidporous floor being declined from the inner circumference of the tank tothe center of the tank; and a tailings outlet connecting with the lowestpoint of said floor.

let. in apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tankadapted pulp harine' an oily agent ivf 'ential affinitgr for the mineralover the gangue constituent of the gulp said ha ing double Wells .1: 1 Ya .lOl'lllillL; an interven ng into which nozzle posuicued pulp and intothe the froth ascends l bles constituting the fr action which which theair bunare broken down moved; a vacuum tween ("Kl I inner c- 'J for ofthe tank; tailing with the lovrest pciut i. a Halve in the tailin z'sutlet; and means controlled b the level of the pulp in the tank foroperating; said valve.

in apparatus of the character described the combination of atankadapted. to containa rnineral-beurinepulp having an oily agent with apreferential affinity-for the mineral over the grangue constit of thesaid to nl: having double walls forming" an interveninrrspace into whichthe pulp is ls eingshorter thanthe outer Wall; a chamber in the bottomof the tank having a porous upper surface forming floor for thepulpcontaining chamber; means for admitting a fluid under pressure intosaid chamber; said porous floor adapted to permit the passage of saidfluid into the pulp in innumerable fine streams distributed throughoutthe entire under surface of the pulp, whereby the pulp is agitated andaerate-d to produce a froth or foam which accumulates on its uppersurface; a vacuum nozzle positioned at the upper surface of the pulp andinto the range of action of which the fro h ascends and by which the airbubbles constitutingthe froth are broken down and the mineral particlesliberated and removed; a vacuum tank; pipe connections between saidvacuum tank and said nozzle; and a shaft journaled vertically in thetank having means for imparting circular motion to the contents of saidtank.

16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tankadapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an ily agent with apreferential alhnity for the mineral over the gangue constituent of thepulp, said tank having double walls forming an intervening space intowhich the pulp is first admitted, thefinnermost of said walls beingshorter than the outer wall; a chamber in the bottom of the tank havinga porous upper surface forming a floor for the pulpcontaining chamber;means for admitting a fluid under pressure into said chamber; saidporous floor adapted to permit the passage of said fluid into the pulpin innumerable fine streams distributed throughout the entire undersurface of the pulp, whereby the pulp is agitated and aerated to producea froth or foam, which accumulates on its upper surface; a vacuum nozzlepositioned at the upper surface of the pulp and into the range of actionof which the froth ascends and by which the air bubbles constituting thefroth are broken down and the mineral particles liberated and removed; avacuum tank; pipe connections between said vacuum tank and said nozzle;a shaft journaled vertically in the tank; and arms carried by the shaftabstantially parallel witl and adjacent said floor and adapted tooperate with a sweeping movement thereover.

17. in apparatus of the character described, the combination with aadapted to contain a mineral-bearing pulp having an oily agent with apreferential affinity for r the mineral over the gangue constituent ofthe pulp; means for admitting a fluid under pressure into the contentsof the pulp for agitating and aerating the same to produce a froth, foamor suds composed of a mass of air bubbles, to which the mineralparticles attach; a rotatable shaft having vanes operating in the pulpfor imparting circular motion thereto; vacuum nozzles positioned abovethe upper surface of the pulp and into the range of action of which thefroth, foam or suds ascends, each of said nozzles having a hollow arm,and said pipe being hollow having ports adapted to register with theinner ends of said arms; a vacuum tank; and pipe connections betweensaid vacuum tank and said hollow shaft.

18. in an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from thenon-metallifcrous ing 'edients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulpreceptacle, means for forming substantially uniformly distributedbubbles of air at the bottom of the said receptacle, means remote fromthe axial center of the receptacle ror introducing ore pulp andprojecting along radial lines to be distributed substantially uniformlyover the periphea parts of the cross area of the receptacle, the saidpulp being acted upon by the said bubbles to remove the metalliferousingredients therefrom, and means for discharging from the receptacle thebarren pulp which has been acted upon by the bubbles.

19. In an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from thenon-metalli erous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulpreceptacle, means for forming substantially uniformly distributedbubbles of air at the bottom of the receptacle, means for introducingore pulp at points distributed along the periphery of the re ceptacleand projecting the said ore inward along radial lines to be distributedsubstantially uniformly over the peripheral parts of the cross area ofthe receptacle, the said pulp being acted upon by the said bubbles toremove the metalliferous i redients therefrom, and means for dischargingfrom the receptacle the barren pulp which has been acted upon by thebubbles.

20. In an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from thenon-mctalliferous in gredients of ore mass, the combination of a pulpreceptacle, the receptacle inclined downward along lines extendingfromthe periphery to the center thereof, for supplying airunder pressurebelow the said porous he and for ing it therethrough to form relativelylarge substantially uniformly distributed air bubbles, means forsupplying ore pulp to the receptacle points distributed along theperiphery o the receptacle and closely adiac 'iit the sail, porousbottom, the said pulp flowing downward and inward over the said bottomin the lirections of inclination and being acted upon by the saidbubbles to receive the metalliferous ingredients therefrom, and means atthe center of the bottom for collecting; and discharging the resultingbarren pulp from the receptacle at the center of the bottom.

' 21. In an apparatus for separating the metalliferous from thenon-metalliferous inporous bottom for gredients oi an ore mass, thecombination of a pulp receptacle, a porous bottom for the receptacleinclined along lines extending radially from the center thereof, meansfor supplyir air under pressure below the said porous 0 cm and forcingit therethrough to form relatively large air bubbles, means for changingthe action of the air at one annular portion of the bottom relatively tot io action at another annular portion, means for supplying ore pulp tothe receptacle at points closely adjacent the upper parts of the saidporous bottom, the said pulp flowing over the said bottom in thedirection oi? inclination and being acted upon by the said bubbles toremove the metalli'i'crousingredients therefrol'n, and means forcollecting and discharging from the receptacle the resulting barren pulpwhich reaches the lower parts of the bottom.

22. In an apparatus for separating the metalliterous from thenon-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulpreceptacle, a porous bottom for the receptacle inclined downward alonglines extendingfrom the periphery to the center thereof, means forsupplying air under pressure below the said porous bottom and toreittherethreugh to term relatively large air bubbles, means for changingthe action 01" the air at one annular portion of the bottom relativelyto the action at another annular portion, means for supplying ore pulpto the receptacle at points distributed along the periphery closelyadjacent the said porous bottom, the said ore lowing downward and inwardover the said bottom in the directions of inclination and being'actedupon by the said bubbles to remove the metallii erous ingredientstherefrom, and means at the center of the bottom for collecting anddischarging the resulting barren pulp from the receptacle.

23. in apparatus for separating the metalliierous from thenon-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulpreceptacle, means for forming; substantially uniformly distributedbubbles within the tank, and means for exhausting the hubbles from theupper surface of the pulp.

24, In apparatus for separating the metalliferous from thenon-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulpreceptacle, means for agitating and aerating the pulp to form a froth,and pneumatic means for breaking down the froth and simultaneouslycarrying off the mineral particles floated thereby.

25. In apparatus for separating the metalliiierous from thenon-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of a pulpreceptacle, means for agitating and aerating the pulp to form a flOlZll,and pneumatic means for breaking down the froth and simultaneouslycarrying off the mineral particles floated thereby, and means where bythe contents of the tank and the pneumatic means will give rotarymovement one relatively to the other.

26. In apparatus for separating the metalli'ferous from thenon-metalliterous ingredients of an ore mass, the combination of apulpreceptacle, means for agitating and aerating the pulp to form a froth,and pneumatic means for breaking down the froth and simultaneouslycarrying of? the mineral particles floated thereby, and a closedreceiver for said mineral particles.

27. The herein described process for sepatinp; the metallii'erous fromthe nonmetalliierous particles of an ore mass, which consists in forminga cylindrical body of liquid pulp of the ore having a relatively largediameter, forming bubbles oi: air at 7 he bottom of the body andpermitting them to rise therethrough and adhere to and remove themetallit'erous particles, and projecting fresh pulp at relatively lowpressure into the said pulp body in sheets directed radiallytransversely across the vertical lines of movement of the bubbles andcommencing at points distributed along the periphery of the pulp body.

28. In an apparatus for separating the metalli'lcrous from thenon-metalliferous ingredients of an ore mass the combination of acylindrical pulp receptacle, means for forming substantially uniformlydistributed bubbles of air at the bottom of the said receptacle, meansremote from the axial center of the receptacle for introducing ore pulpand projecting it horizontally to be distributed substantially uniformlyover the cross area or" the receptacle, the said pulp being acted uponby the said bubbles to remove the metallit'erous ingredients therefrom,and axially arranged means for discharging from the receptacle thebarren pulp which has been acted upon by the bubbles.

lntestimony whereot l. ailir; my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JUHN M. .CALLOW.

Witnesses: V

ERNEST GAYrono, H. A. MERCER.

